Centerville swimmer Aubrey Davis is with her parents Mike and Alyssa after she signed with Anderson University on March 22.
CENTERVILLE, Ind. – A two-time state finalist in swimming, Centerville’s Aubrey Davis announced her decision to attend Anderson University on Thursday.
“Anderson felt like home,” said Davis, who is the daughter of Mike and Alyssa Davis. “Both my parents noted during my tour that I looked as if I had been at Anderson for years.”
“Out of the eight plus colleges I visited, Anderson was the one that had everything I wanted and more,” Davis continued. “The academics are stellar, they had a swim team, and the people are incredible. I felt welcomed the instant I stepped on campus.”
Next year will be the third season of the swimming program at Anderson, which competes in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference under head coach Conner Snare.
“I could talk about swimming for Anderson for hours,” Davis said. “I am so excited. During my overnight I stayed with the swim team, got to see two practices and fell in love with the atmosphere of their team.”
“The program may be new, but the potential to be incredible is definitely there and I knew I needed to be apart of building the program,” the future Raven went on to say. “With the recruits coming in, the current team, and the coaching staff, AU Swimming is going to do great things.”
“Coach Snare is working really hard to recruit for a bigger team, so I actually am part of a relatively big recruiting class,” Davis added. “I’ve met five of the other recruits and I actually swam against one of them during season.”
The Bulldog senior has her academic future prepared as well.
“I plan on majoring in athletic training and minoring in nutrition,” she said. “Anderson has a great AT program and a great facility. After a tour of their facility and meeting with the head of the program, I knew that was where I needed to be. Plus the training room is a five-minute walk from the pool. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Centerville Head Coach Darren Ridenour was pleased with the selection as Davis will join teammate and Indiana State University recruit Jolie Rusznak in the college ranks next season.
“I am excited for Aubrey to attend Anderson University next year,” Ridenour said. “The Anderson University program is only a couple years old and I think Aubrey will have an opportunity to have a big impact on the growth of that team.”
“Aubrey is a truly gifted swimmer with an amazing backstroke,” Ridenour added. “I am sure she will continue to improve and leave a substantial mark at Anderson. I know Aubrey will have a great experience swimming in college and preparing for her career as an athletic trainer. I couldn’t be more proud of Aubrey. It has been an honor to coach her.”
Davis qualified for the IHSAA State Finals in the 100-yard backstroke as a junior and senior for the Bulldogs, after winning the sectional title in the event both times.
“Aubrey has been a vital part of the success Centerville swimming and diving has experienced in the past several years,” Ridenour said. “She demonstrated her excellence as a MVP of a girls undefeated dual meet season last year, a member of two school relay records and the record holder in the 100 Backstroke.
With a time of 1:01.51, Davis set the Centerville standard in the 100-yard backstroke as a junior.
“She has also set an example with her off season training and leadership as a captain,” Ridenour said. “She is an excellent student and a positive influence our team.”
“This year was especially difficult for Aubrey because of some injuries to her back and elbows that reduced her ability to train at her maximum level,” Ridenour added. “However, she adapted and put maximum effort into her developing her skills. As a result, she became a much more efficient swimmer and was still able to match her best times at the end of the season.”
In addition to her individual performance, Davis is also a part of school marks in the 200-yard Medley Relay and 200-yard Free Relay.
Davis, Grace Whiteley, Sophie Neher and Sydney Whiteley set the record in the medley relay with a time of 1:57.05 in 2017, while the best time in the freestyle for the Bulldogs of 1:44.70 came a year earlier from Brooke Madden, Davis, Neher and Sydney Whiteley.